Top 10 Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Universities in the U.S.

Learn about the top 10 universities that offer undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering. Find brief summaries of four of these schools, as well as a list of other universities around the country that provide training for aspiring biomedical engineers.
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Biomedical Engineering Schools

Students interested in biomedical engineering may find a number of good programs around the country. Here we look at ten of the best schools based on how they are ranked by U.S. News & World Report and the programs that they offer. Undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering teach students how biological, medical and engineering technologies can be used to improve human health. Each of the schools we'll be profiling here has an undergraduate biomedical engineering program that's accredited by ABET Inc., formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Additionally, each of these schools has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in biomedical engineering programming.

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD

John Hopkins University's Department of Biomedical Engineering is home to the Biomedical Engineering Society. As of 2016, Johns Hopkins University has the second best undergraduate program in biomedical engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report. In the same year, the school also ranked 10th on the U.S. News & World Report list of national universities.

Through the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Whitaker Institute, undergraduates can pursue a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering program, which offers concentrations in computational biology and biological systems engineering; microsystems and nanotechnology; tissue and cellular engineering; sensors or instrumentation. Required coursework includes studies in physics, calculus, chemistry, and algebra. Students also learn about biosystems, models, and simulation programs, and the use of statistics in thermodynamics. Lab work in biomedical engineering is also part of the program.

Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA

The Georgia Institute of Technology's Biomedical Engineering Department is the largest in the country. The Georgia Institute of Technology ranked first on U.S. News & World Report's list of undergraduate biomedical engineering schools in 2016. The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, the largest in the country, is a combined effort between Georgia Tech's College of Engineering and Emory University's School of Medicine. Students can pursue a minor or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Engineering, as well as undergraduate research opportunities. Biomedical engineering majors can also participate in an international study option, approximately six months in length, which requires them to take courses, do independent research, or work for a biomedical company.

University of California - San Diego

In 2016, the University of California in San Diego (UC San Diego) ranked 6th on the U.S. News & World Report list for undergraduate biomedical engineering programs, as well as among the top ten public universities. Located in the Jacobs School of Engineering, the Department of Biomedical Engineering offers four majors, including general bioengineering, biotechnology, and bioinformatics, as well as a pre-medical track. Among the requirements for biomedical engineering majors at the University of California in San Diego is a senior design capstone project. Students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher might qualify for the five-year combined B.S./Master of Science (M.S.) in Bioengineering program.

Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University's undergraduate biomedical engineering program offers six different tracks of study. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report placed Carnegie Mellon University as tied for the 24th best university in the nation. The undergraduate biomedical engineering program at Carnegie Mellon University makes a point to have students focus on both biomedical science and traditional engineering. Because of this focus, undergraduate students often work on collaborative projects with the College of Engineering, which is the 8th best engineering school in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2016 list.

More Biomedical Engineering Schools

A few other schools with top biomedical engineering programs at the undergrad level span the Midwest and East Coast and offer unique academic features. For example:

School Name

Distinction

Location

Columbia University

Undergraduate biomedical engineering curriculum has a physical focus

New York, NY

Duke University

Has elective course sequences in electrobiology or tissue engineering, among other areas

Durham, NC

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Has a Biomechanics Traineeship Program for students

Cambridge, MA

University of Texas at Austin

Offers unique scholarships for biomedical engineering majors

Austin, TX

University of Virginia

Has a research-based biomedical engineering curriculum for undergraduates

Charlottesville, VA

Washington University in Saint Louis

Has an undergraduate program in biomedical engineering, which includes a cooperative experience

Saint Louis, MO

Each university featured we've discussed has either been highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report or offers a dynamic program to help you find the best program for you.